Happy Sunday Funday, Hoboken and Jersey City — we think its finally safe to say that spring has sprung. This week Joboken opened outside of the PATH station, Bang Cookies was featured in the New York Times, and Hoboken Girl’s annual Wellness Crawl is just one week away. All of this and more below — here are your top news stories of the week.
Seal Pup Found at Liberty State Park
Photo: Wild Jersey City
Wild Jersey City captured a video of a baby seal pup in the water near Liberty State Park last week. The social media account dedicated to capturing urban nature in Jersey City, informed viewers that this seal pup is not the first to have been spotted near the old pier slipway next to Liberty State Park headquarters. This location would be directly affected by the proposed “Millionaire’s Marina” in JC, so activists, including Wild Jersey City, have stated, “let’s hope this never becomes a gated marina, and Caven point remains as natural habitat.”
La Isla is a Finalist in the Garden State Culinary Arts Awards
Hoboken’s La Isla restaurant and its owner/chef Omar Giner are among the finalists for the 2018 Garden State Culinary Arts Awards (GSCAA), reports Patch. La Isla is competing in the “Best Neighborhood Food Establishment” which is described as, “an informal, moderately priced, independently owned eatery in New Jersey with high-quality food that reflects the character of New Jersey and/or its surrounding community. Must have been in operation for at least five years.” The GSCAA, its nine-member Awards Committee, and a statewide body of some 150 judges have been scoring the Garden State for deserving eateries over the past year and have narrowed the playing fired down to 10 candidates. Best of luck to La Isla and Chef Giner!
Luna Restaurant & Bar Opening in JC
According to Jersey City Eats, Luna Restaurant & Bar is set to open next week in the former home of Park & Sixth at 279 Grove Street. Luna is the newest culinary venture for the owners of Paisano’s in Rutherford. While some locals were excited to have an extension of Paisano’s famed menu more locally, others feel that the area already has too many Italian-inspired restaurants. According to early reports, the culinary masterminds behind Luna stated that the menu would feature more modern Italian-inspired dishes instead of the more common Italian-American favorites. Luna will also have a full bar, cocktails, and wine cellar as well as a private room for parties and events. Stay tuned for more details on the opening day!
Hudson Coffee Opens in Uptown Hoboken
Brought to you by the same awesome owners as Bean Vault Coffee downtown, Hudson Coffee has opened on Hudson between 11th and 12th {at 1100 Maxwell Lane #3A}. This nearly 1200-square-foot space of java heaven is serving up coffees, teas, and pastries — and opened this past Tuesday in Hoboken. Their hours currently are 6:00AM-10:00PM, which makes for a pretty sweet timeframe to stop by and grab a cup of coffee any time of day or night. Welcome to the neighborhood, Hudson Coffee! More from our visit to this shop coming soon.
J CITY Theater Finds a New Home
Photo: J City Theater
After a nearly four-year hiatus, the J CITY Theater (JCT) is currently rehearsing for its new show, Clark Gable Slept Here. After their final performance in April 2014, the J CITY Theater was suddenly informed that they would no longer be able to hold rehearsals and productions in the basement of St. Michael’s Church as it was being rented out to a daycare. Thus began their four-year search for a new stage in downtown Jersey City. Prior to the hiatus, J CITY Theater was known for bringing thought-provoking performances to Hudson County that attracted the attention of reviewers from the The New York Times and The Star Ledger. Clark Gale Slept here will be opening on May 4th so be sure to purchase your ticket here.
Marcus B&P Brunch
Marcus Samuelsson’s Newark eatery, Marcus B&P, is launching a weekend brunch starting Sunday from 11:30AM-3:00PM. Diners in the 60-seat restaurant can enjoy listening to contemporary jazz on Sunday and dining on American and Mediterranean classics at any meal. Notable menu items include Smothered Homemade Cornbread with dorowat and poached egg {see above}, Croque Madame with Taylor ham, bechamel, fried egg, arugula, and fried chicken & waffles with cabbage pikliz {Haitian spicy coleslaw}.
Joboken Open Outside Hoboken’s PATH Station
Joboken has officially opened for business at 23 Hudson Place directly outside of the PATH station. Childhood friends Pete and Dan beat out many entrepreneurs in the race to purchase the former home of PATH newsstand. Although Joboken’s space is relatively small, their streamlined layout, to-go window, and outdoor seating make it possible for patrons to grab their order without missing a beat. The coffee selection includes espresso, lattes, cold brew, and cappuccino and milk alternatives {such as almond milk and oat milk}. Balthazar baked goods, Natalie’s juices, yogurt, biscotti, and other snacks round out the menu for now. Be sure to check back for menu updates — word on the street is that fresh lemonade and late night grilled cheese may be making a debut once the warmer weather is here to stay. Read more here.
Hoboken Museum Opens New Art Exhibit
The Hoboken Museum is opening a new art exhibit entitled,”Rear Window: Photographs by Tom Zuk.” The exhibit opens today and will include a reception from 2:00PM – 5:00PM and an artist’s talk at 4:00PM. Tom Zuk is best known for his photographic art, specifically that taken from his Hoboken apartment window. Since Zuk was constrained to shooting from his apartment, he recalls that he didn’t set out with a particular objective, but describes the resulting series as “a hybrid of the Romantic and Existential, recording the particular species of mankind’s solitude unique to dense, old cities.” Examples of his work include a wall of crumbling masonry, a clothesline with pulley, a street corner, a hi-rise apartment, or just the sky filling the window from edge to edge. The exhibit will be on display through May 27th and more of Zuk’s work can be viewed on his Instagram.
Future of Multi Service Center Up for Debate
Photo: City of Hoboken via Twitter
The future of the Hoboken Multi Service Center will be the topic of conversation during a public meeting on April 25th at 6:00PM, reports Patch. According to Mayor Bhalla, “the April 25 meeting will be ‘consequential’ for the future of the Multi Service Center and will help shape its role in the city for generations to come. “The City of Hoboken is looking for public input on how the under-utilized Multi Service Center should be redesigned for the future… After the meeting, the city will retain an engineering firm to conduct a feasibility study and cost analysis, based on public input.” The center, which is located at 124 Grand Street, has been primarily used as a recreational facility and cooling-zone during hot summer days.
Bang Cookies in the NYT
Jersey City’s Bang Cookies {a Hoboken Girl fave!} was recently featured in the New York Times’ “Front Burner” column that features new and noteworthy cuisine. While those of us on this side of the Hudson are VERY familiar with Bang Cookie’s decadent and organic cookies, the NYT article featured the bakery’s new line of stuffed cookies {drooool}. Stuffed cookie flavors include a chocolate cookie with strawberry jam filling, a peanut butter cookie also with strawberry jam filling, and a caramel sea salt chocolate flavor with gooey center. These cookies start at $5.50 each and regular cookies range from $4.50 to $5. All ingredients are organic, FYI.
Hoboken Girl Wellness Crawl
Hoboken Girl’s Second Annual Wellness Crawl is happening April 22nd from 11:00AM-4:00PM. Participants can look forward to health consultations, beauty services including facials, healthy foods and juices, mini-workouts from local studios, and more. Tickets are on sale here. We hope to see you there! Click here for a list of freebies offered to those with tickets {trust us – the list is INSANE and includes everything from free hot yoga to free SoulCycle to free beauty samples to free candles and more}.
And that’s the latest Word on Washington Street news roundup for your Sunday — hope you have a great one.
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